To Cherish and To Hold Release Day

To Cherish and To Hold

By Nicole Simone

Luke and Marlene return in the follow up to the Amazon best selling novel, Love of a Rockstar

Marlene Parker got her fairy tale ending. Luke Anderson, her one and only love and their darling little girl are finally a family again.

However, nobody said marrying a rockstar is easy. The media is out for blood, groupies are singing on Marlene’s front lawn and people are deeming her the new Yoko Ono. If that wasn’t enough, there is a wedding to plan and pies to bake. An expert in chaos, Marlene doesn’t get easily stressed. That is, until an unexpected pregnancy digs up old insecurities, potentially threatening the life she has worked so hard to gain.

The group of girls that had been holding a vigil since the news broke Luke was quitting Five Guys was singing loudly and off key. In the past week they’d been camped out, they’d gone through Five Guys’ extensive song list. I wanted to shove extra thick cotton into my ears. Luke had almost called the cops but his manager had discouraged it. He said feeding the hungry vultures known as the media was just asking for trouble.

“That was never me. I was always just Luke. They chose to see me that way,” he said, referring to his fans.

“I know, but you built a brand.”

“I’m not a goddamn Pepsi can.”

“No, you’re handsome, brilliant, an amazing dad, and the proud owner of Norma Jean’s. That will all come to light eventually. Be patient.”

Luke dropped the curtain and faced me. Endless love shined in his gaze. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“If I knew our future would be this….” My eyes darted out of the window to where Luke’s groupies continued to sing. “Or whatever the hell they wrote in some trashy magazine about our brilliant, adorable daughter, then I wouldn’t have been so apt to jump on the bandwagon.”

I wrenched my hand away as I stood. It wasn’t his fault his career had an abnormally bright spotlight, but it also was. He chose the life of a musician. Nobody had forced it upon him. Fury blazed in my line of sight. I wanted to punch the reporters, the god-awful groupies who teased Luke with their cleavage, and whoever else messed with the second chance he’d been given with his family.

“I’m going to go for a run,” I said.

He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t run.”

Turning on my heels, my body hummed with pent up aggression, waiting and ready to be released. “I do now.”

That fiancé of mine melted my defenses like nobody else. While having Luke gone for a month sounded as appealing as a root canal, I would be a selfish idiot to force him to stay home. He’d made the ultimate sacrifice for Nil and me, showing us he wasn’t the same man. Therefore, I had to trust that the past wouldn’t repeat itself. Luke would come back to us.

Nicole Simone works in digital media by day and at night, pen’s character driven romance novels that will make your mama blush. She lives in Seattle, WA with her fat bulldog named Humphrey.

From my curiosity about what it’s like to be left behind when you’re spouse pursues their dreams.

Where do you find your inspiration?

The world around me, which is a cliché answer but it’s the truth. I love going on adventures and soaking in different cultures.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

I don’t find the act itself hard but I do find the ability to sit down and focus to be a challenge on a daily basis.

What are your current projects?

I’m currently working on the next installment in the Love of a Rockstar series called Broken Lullabies. It’s about Matthew, the lead singer of Five Guys and Camilla.

Tell us about your first book. What would readers find different about the first one and your most recent published work?

If I’m being honest, an improvement in the quality of writing is probably the most glaring difference between my first novel and my most recent published work. Practice makes perfect.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I want my readers to walk away with the notion that no matter how hard life is at the moment; a happy ever after is in arms reach.

Does music play any type of role in your writing?

It doesn’t. I’m easily distracted and have to have complete silence to write.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your life?

What’s that saying? Write what you know.

What books have influenced your life most?

The Weetzie Bat Books by Francesca Le Block sparked the creative juices and I haven’t been able to put down the pen since.

Are there any new authors that have grasp your interest?

Lily Paradis is relative newcomer to the scene and just released her second novel, Volition. Besides being a gifted writer, she is also talented at social media marketing. I have watched her gain readers by the trunkful over a short period of time. I could defiantly learn a thing or two from her.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

I actually shared the first two chapters of Broken Lullabies at the end of To Cherish and To Hold.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Thank you a million times over for loving my characters as much as I do.

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

You are more than welcome to stalk my social media pages where I post updates and sneak peeks of my latest WIP.

Do you have a special time to write? How is your day structured writing-wise?

I usually write in the mornings till late afternoon with intermittent breaks.

Why did you choose to write Contemporary Romance stories?

I wrote a plethora of different genres before I settled on Contemporary Romance. It’s simply what comes most naturally for me.

What is for you the perfect book hero?

My perfect book hero is complicated with tons of layers to peel back and reveal.

When you start a book, do you already have the whole story in your head or is it built progressively?

I have the basic plot line in my head but the characters form themselves.

When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing at such an early age that’s unclear why exactly I started. If I had to guess though, it was probably because I liked the fiction world better than reality. Always have.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I think the moment my short story won first prize in a literature contest. That’s when it dawned on me that I didn’t want writing to be a hobby. I wanted it to be a career.

List three books you have recently read and would recommend.

The Secret Place by Tana French

Chasing Me by Jennifer Probst

Becoming Rain by K.A Tucker

Tell us something that people would be surprised you know how to do.

I know how to do a headstand without falling on my ass.

Will you write more about these characters?

While Luke and Marlene’s story is over, they will make the occasional appearance in Broken Lullabies.

Love of a Rockstar

Love of a Rockstar #1

Marlene Parker thought she met her soul mate at eighteen but when he left her pregnant and alone to pursue a life of rock n roll, she vowed to never love again. Now four years later, she is being offered the dream of a lifetime. Moving to France with her daughter to start anew. There is only one problem. Marlene’s formative ex is back in town, and his pull is strong as ever.

Luke Anderson has everything a man could want. Fame, fortune and enough beautiful women to last him a lifetime. That is until a young runaway shows him what is truly important. Family. A word in which plagues Luke with regret. As a scared twenty two year old he ran away from the love of his life and their unborn child. Now ready to reverse his biggest regret with only three days to do it,

Luke’s fate hangs in the balance. The question is, will he be able to convince Marlene their love story deserves a second chance?